Artwork puts focus on violence against women as Bondi's Sculpture by the Sea marks 30 years
Sweethearts is a field of hand‑polished concrete hearts placed in Marks Park, the strip between Bondi and Tamarama beaches. The installation forms part of Sculpture by the Sea, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary as one of the world’s largest open‑air sculpture festivals.
The work was conceived by Philippa Lysaght, an advocate turned first‑time artist, and Omi McCurdie, a sculptor responsible for the technical design. They chose to cast a heart for every woman killed by an intimate partner in Australia that year, ending up with dozens of pieces. Each heart bears a phrase taken from the language that often excuses or downplays abuse, meant to make viewers recognize and recoil at the familiarity of the words.
Beyond its visual impact, the installation is a fundraiser; the hearts will be sold after the exhibition with proceeds supporting Women’s Community Shelters. The artists hoped the high‑traffic coastal venue would bring the message to the 400,000 visitors expected this season.
Sculpture by the Sea began in 1977 as a modest community effort and has grown into a two‑kilometre showcase that injects millions into the local economy while keeping free art accessible to the public. This year's socially engaged work underscores how the festival continues to serve both artistic and civic purposes.